The Searle Scholars Scientific Advisory Board is primarily
interested in the potential of applicants to make innovative and high-impact
contributions to research over an extended period of time. 

Applicants for the 2027 competition (awards which will be
activated on July 1, 2027) are expected to be pursuing independent research
careers in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience,
pharmacology, and related areas in chemistry, medicine, and the biological
sciences. 

Applicants should have begun their appointment as an
independent investigator at the assistant professor level on or after May 1,
2025. The appointment must be their first tenure-track position (or its nearest
equivalent). 

Institutions which do not have tenure-track appointments
should consult with the Scientific Director of the Program regarding
eligibility of selected applicants PRIOR to nominating such individuals. 

The Searle Scholars Program does not ordinarily support
purely clinical research but has supported research programs that include both
clinical and basic components. Potential applicants who are unsure if their
research is appropriate for our Program are encouraged to examine the research
interests of present and former Searle Scholars on this website. 

Awards: Grants are set at $450,000 for a three-year period
with $150,000 payable in the first year and equal sums payable in the second
and third years and are subject to the receipt of acceptable progress reports.